Son of Mafia boss sings happy birthday to trial judge

The racketeering trial of the son of an infamous New York Mafia boss was interrupted yesterday - so he could sing Happy Birthday to the judge.

John 'Junior' Gotti, whose late father was the

head of the powerful Gambino crime family, said he 'led the attack' in the celebratory verse for Manhattan federal Judge Shira Scheindlin's 60th, the New York Post reported.

The courtroom was closed to the public for the bizarre singalong, but at least one defence lawyer, members of the prosecution team and court personnel were all said to have joined in.

It took place on the third day of jury selection in the trial.

"I led the attack," Gotti told reporters outside.

"Everyone was saying, 'We're going to sing, we're going to sing,' and then they started chickening out."

Judge Scheindlin and Gotti have seen a lot of each other in court over the last year. She presided over his two previous racketeering trials, which were ruled mistrials after the juries failed to reach verdicts.